'You think touching a vital spot with your palm can end the fight?'
'Can't, and won't work!'
'My speed will surpass your [Internal Release].'
The so-called Internal Release is the most lethal move in Linne's school.
Using a stationary palm to touch the target, delivering a full-force attack like piercing through mountains, also a concentrated damage focusing all power on a single point.
If hit by such a move, even if not dead, one would be severely injured.
And Guanyin, having lost all arms, was like a snake with its fangs removed, offering no defense against Law's Gentle Palm.
Is it too late to pray now?
At such a critical moment, Netero didn't even consider such questions.
Call it beast-like instinct. He didn't even retract the armless Guanyin, no, there was no time to retract it, before striking out with a palm.
That was no longer any palm of 100-Type Guanyin but a palm he swung with his own body, aiming directly at Law, who was so close.
Netero wanted to be faster than Law's Internal Release because he knew Internal Release was a move that unleashed concentrated damage from a stationary state, thus requiring power gathering.
Power gathering meant pause.
Pause meant opportunity.
Whose palm strike was faster, his or Law's Internal Release?
[Internal Release]
Facing Netero's risky move, a gleam flashed in Law's eyes, unwavering.
The Nen in his body acted like a water pump, pressing Nen in, then extracting it, gathering it onto his right arm, directly transmitting to his palm.
Then, Netero's palm strike arrived, kissing the corner of Law's forehead.
Instantly, blood blossomed abruptly on Law's forehead.
So vivid, so glaring.
The blood was almost right before his eyes, so the smell of blood was very strong.
Law stared fixedly into Netero's eyes, letting the blood on his forehead flow down in several streams towards his chin.
A drop of blood fell towards the ground first.
Drip.
One ripple.
Drip.
Two ripples.
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
Both maintained their postures, motionless.
The armless Guanyin stood silently behind Netero, like the sturdiest shield, never abandoning him. But Law, from start to finish, never summoned the White General.
Was this contempt or going easy?
Unknown.
The only thing known was that Law couldn't deliver a killing blow.
"Huff."
Netero laboriously exhaled, retracting his blood-stained right palm with a slow, stiff motion, then calmly let it hang at his side.
Then, he gave Law a deep look, lowered his head to look at the motionless hand pressed against his chest, a faint bitter smile playing on his lips.
"What is that?"
Netero asked curiously.
Law replied, "Domain."
"The move or the name?"
"Both."
"Oh."
Netero nodded gently.
With the last syllable, his mouth didn't open wide, no exaggerated vomiting motion. But a large amount of blood gushed out from Netero's mouth as if competing to scare.
Before this blood gushed out, Netero had actually already vomited a large mouthful of blood, and that blood stained Law's forehead and face.
Blood flowed out as if it cost nothing, instantly soaking Netero's clothes red.
Outside the field, Morel and the others showed shock, rushing towards the field.
That amount of bleeding from inside out was no joke… clearly severe internal injuries.
Compared to Morel and the others' tension, Netero, the person involved, was very calm.
Looking at his own blood, he murmured in a peculiar tone, "Too slow."
As if self-mocking: Too old.
His vision began to darken, his thoughts seemed about to break.
'The key was Aura Pressure, right?'
'It played the crucial role in pulling 100-Type Guanyin's palm strikes and also blocked my last palm's opportunity.'
'The final result was that I wasn't faster than Law.'
At the last moment before losing consciousness, Netero thought this.
His body tipped forward but didn't fall to the ground because Law supported him.
The silently standing Guanyin abruptly scattered into countless tiny golden light points.
Because Netero lost consciousness, these golden light points representing Nen didn't retract into Netero's body but naturally dissipated in the air.
If Netero had had the remaining strength to retract 100-Type Guanyin first, his last palm could have exerted greater force and faster speed. The outcome might have been different.
But there were no ifs.
Law didn't give Netero that environment. But ultimately, as Netero himself said, his attack wasn't faster than Law's Internal Release. That was the fundamental reason for defeat.
"Old man, this is the last time."
Law looked at the unconscious Netero, regardless of whether Netero could hear.
This was the last time accompanying Netero's recklessness. There wouldn't be another. And he believed Netero wouldn't seek him out again.
The first to arrive was Morel, who supported one of Netero's shoulders, then looked at Law, wanting to speak but hesitating.
"He won't die."
"..."
Morel felt like a large walnut was stuck in his throat.
The others also gathered around, looking at the two, expressions varied.
Seemed like there was much to say, but in the end, nothing was said.
Law didn't mind this awkward atmosphere, turning to Ging. "Tell Shiro to be on standby."
Ging nodded. His current mood was rather strange, and he couldn't help but glance at Netero.
Netero's injuries weren't life-threatening but were very severe.
Hospital standards couldn't make Netero recover quickly. Only Shiro's Nen Ability could heal Netero swiftly.
"Pretty ruthless."
Uvogin came to Law's side, punching Law's shoulder, perhaps having developed some affection from being abused by Netero these past days.
'Ruthless?'
Law chuckled.
His last palm didn't hold back in speed but withheld some force in destructive power.
That moment was quite dangerous. He had to control the Gentle Palm's destructiveness to a specific degree, combining two effects: interrupting Netero's attack and making Netero lose combat ability.
In that stimulating, tense moment, he couldn't add a bit more nor reduce a bit. It was a situation with extremely low error tolerance.
The result was he succeeded.
Although he wasn't a battle maniac like Netero, anyone completing an impressive maneuver would feel a refreshing sense of satisfaction.
Law now had this satisfaction, but he just wouldn't say it.
Nobunaga stood to the side holding the long blade, becoming a quiet handsome man because yesterday's shadow still lingered.
Machi kicked Uvogin in the calf.
Uvogin immediately looked at Machi in confusion. Though not speaking, his eyes seemed to ask: Why kick me?
Machi ignored him, moving close to Law, taking his hand.
Law smiled at her, then faced Biscuit's complex expression.
Regarding Law's strength, Biscuit understood quite deeply. So Law defeating Netero didn't surprise her at all.
As for why her mood was so complicated...
How to put it? Netero was from the Shingen-Ryu school, she was from the Shingen-Ryu school, and Law was also from the Shingen-Ryu school.
Before the fight started, she really wanted Law to give Netero a good beating.
But when the result appeared before her eyes, she couldn't laugh at all.
Because Law used techniques from another school to defeat Netero! And she was a member of the Shingen-ryu school. Even if Law was her disciple, how could she be happy?